Posts tagged tax policy
The Union that May Have Broken California
January 13, 2026 // Billionaire exodus was not the stated goal of the wealth tax proponents: it was an unintended consequence of the ballot language drafting and revision process. SEIU-UHW is a veteran of ballot measure warfare but has a mixed record. It spent $37 million on three failed measures (2018 Proposition 8, 2020 Proposition 23, and 2022 Proposition 29) to regulate the state’s dialysis industry. But their current plan to fan class envy in hopes of securing $100 billion in new state revenue is a far more audacious effort. The original language of Billionaire Wealth Tax set an effective residency date of January 1, 2025, which would have made avoidance legally impossible for current residents. However, after intense legal scrutiny lead to fears that the measure would fail in court, proponents filed an amendment on November 26, 2025. This new version shifted the tax obligation date to January 1, 2026 opening a narrow escape hatch for the billionaires.
What Got Cut from the White House Spending Bill That Benefits Federal Employees
July 11, 2025 // The Senate stripped out: Changes to FERS contributions and pension formulas The at-will employment requirement for new hires The MSPB appeal fee Provisions affecting federal labor unions
California’s AB5 Law Threatens Film and TV Workers Who Use Loan Outs
May 28, 2024 // Loan-out corporations already pay W-2 wages to their owners. The California Employment Development Department's decision to not recognize loan-outs for payroll purposes means studios would have to pay these corporations directly. Due to the logistical challenges this presents, studios are likely to reject using loan-outs altogether. This could severely disrupt the entertainment industry and needs immediate resolution. And the other giant thing is, other states will not have this law. So why would Hollywood workers stay and have businesses in Southern California if they'd be paying more taxes to live in a more expensive place? Especially if work then moves out of state as well.